Obama Lists Second Stimulus as Early Priority

Giving his first press conference as president-elect today, Barack Obama vowed that he would pass a second economic stimulus package when asked what his first priorities in office will be.

“The one thing I can say with certainty is: we are gonna need to see a stimulus package passed either before or after the inauguration,” Obama said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), and Congressional Democrats have pressed for a second stimulus package. Congress will return for a lame-duck session this month, when Democratic leaders will begin their push for a package.

Obama said his administration, in determining its economic priorities, will focus on job creation and assistance to state and local governments to prevent government layoffs.